Clinton Toopi: Former Warrior on the team's performance, consistency, upcoming clash with Manly

0:00You're listening to the Weeknd Sport Podcast with Jason Pine from News Talks at B. Warriors have the chance to make some NRL history this weekend. If they beat mainly this afternoon by a big Imagine then Penruth beat the Tigers tomorrow. The Warriors will claim the minor premiership for just the second time emulating the 2002 side which went all the way to the Grand Final. Let's bring in a genuine Warriors legend Clinton Torpey was a huge part of that 2002 side. He played 26 of the sides 27 games that season and top the tri-scoring list with 18 including an iconic try in the preliminary final against Cranulla which propelled the Warriors to their first ever Grand Final. That's got some Jones and oh a real good catch in pass by Tlairey has given the chance the Warriors Torpey will make it. Torpey did he land on the lines? I fancy that he has. This will be a try

1:04Across eight seasons at the Warriors he played 129 NRL games scoring 57 tries the eighth most by any warrior in their history He also had time with the lead dry nose and the gold coast titans and played 22 times for the Kiwis Twice scoring a hat trick of tries against Australia in 2003 and again in 2005 He was without a doubt one of the best centers in the world Clinton Torpey is with us great to get the chance to chat to you this afternoon Clinton as you've watched The Warriors in 2026 how much is it brought back memories of 2002 for you? Oh look Yeah, that's right. You just you know made my head even bigger I Usually I'm getting to hats, but now I definitely might be able to get into hats, but Look on a serious note watching this outfit, you know what this You know on and off the field what they've been able to create you know in terms of

2:07Successors the momentum. It's it's it's so awesome to watch as a supporter and as an ex-player It and doesn't bring up any memories of what we we created by any means But it's just it's just exciting to know that they've Consistency and the Warriors in the same conversation It's just a beautiful thing to be proud of you know I think even in my era when we had some success as we probably didn't have the consistency that these These boys have been able to produce over 20 odd gate 20 20 plus games and it's that's a huge feat in itself to be the best defensive You know, you know the best attacking by one point If my stats tell me right and Their completions are the highest of anything, you know and I'd say probably the fastest one air of NRL I think that's you know speaks for itself. Yeah, you've now with the consistency

3:08That I think is the is the hallmark of this side and of course any team that's at the top of the table is gonna have to produce That consistency What parts of the game specifically Clinton have you enjoyed watching from the Warriors? Oh The ferocity you know the way that they're Just bashing teams apart like the way left the physicality The way they're consistently holding that level of standards like I only got to think back to the pin of panthers nobody does actually the pen with panthers The way we were physical no one drives tall back no one holds their back five in their own 20 little loan 30 And that just signify Their standing in the top four and I think you know as a As a next player you watch that and you see how those battle of attrition come down to the physicality and being able to maintain that

4:11Physicality for the 80 minutes and they did not let off and I know there might have been a school couple of try scored late, but That was no way and An indication of how that game really was if we were you know the ones that know and love their ugly league I just was it I was just admiring the way they How they're only they continue to do it each week There have been a lot of standout performers one player though turning a lot of heads is Lecker Hullesima What have you made of his development and does he remind you a little bit of Ali lower titty? Yeah, look I almost think he's one in his own like Ali was Ali seemed like you had I I'm not taking away anything from Ali because Ali was probably in my eyes one of the best players I've ever been to play with that lecker's kind of There's got pretty much everything you know his explosive. He's powerful. He's fast. He's strong. He's you know, he's tall

5:16And he's got a body built for you know both sides of the pack, you know the forwards and that outside backs and I think You know seeing him play in the centers is is is a very exciting then you know some of the players the centers that he's come up with They're top 10 they will class centers and he's They're nervous and they're trying to put some shots on him and he's just flicking him off right there, you know little kids Yep And just seeing him grow in confidence and You know, it's best stand out for the place like we all knew that he was a unique specimen but You know coming in and hold a position that he's not familiar with and you know make it his own You know in this point of time and their team is Wouldn't be an easy thing to do but the way webby is created a System structure that fits the mold of every single athlete that's in that team they send to a Jull and

6:20Buy in and that next mentality is next man up mentality has been a You know some do to behold do you think you know what are we we're at the third or fourth? String half and it's nice to have the combination of chance and all those boys come back to the fold and You know at the right time. So no, it's exciting times leading into what will be the business end of the season Absolutely right. Yeah, that next man up mentality is another hallmark of this team isn't it Clinton? You know you look at the guys who've had to step up it as you say yeah, I don't know how many halfbacks they've used this year But they all seem capable of slotting in what's it like in a playing group when you know you have key players go down injured How do you wrap the support around the bloke coming in and make sure that they Immediately feel at home in first grade I think what's been good? I think the whole cultural of it all you're gonna think of The pathways that they've got in place so the system so having the team in the Neswa's Wales Cup and

7:23You know the younger grades below that having them You know being a part of playing against men. So they'll be at NRL plays down in the NSW Cup side I think a lot of times we see what's happening around the top but not really behind the scenes or down below where A lot of these boys are you know learning their craft you got to look at the jet clearies and everything else Those kinds of guys didn't just turn up here and now they've Slotted into you know in our our straightaway. They've been crafting out in ten of borders another one when I think of halves is You know they were playing their trade in the NSW Cup and you know a standard that's you know got a lot of like I said X players playing in their own current Extended players of a 30 men squad Playing and what's considered one of the highest level of footy so when those boys are playing good footy down there and they're Binding and they're coming into the same systems. It's from the top to the bottom and the bottom to the top It's almost seamless when they come in and they're playing. It's just finding their confidence within themselves to

8:29You know try and tell a hundred or three hundred game player like you know Fisher To get over here and get over there and I need your job under me and all this stuff You know, that's not an easy thing to do is a young kid trying to tell Men who are internationals men who have won championships where to go and how to be on the field and if you can Know in that space and be confident in it I think that sort of is you know another battle in itself But what webby has done and I I tend to hear it quite a lot and even with us old boys being back here Over the last few days and watching the captains run these boys have a lot of faith and love for webby and And I know that it's mutual and that's why these boys of you know going out there to die and battle for not just webby but the The team and the the club and what it stands for that's great insight that 2002 side man, I look at the names in that team as well as you I mean listen to this Ivan Cleary Ali Lowe T.D. Stacey Jones Mark Tookie Owen Gutenbeel Jerry C. C. O'C. Waitangi Corp who Kevin

9:34Campion Lance Ohio Logan Swan Henry Fathili Monty Beatham I could go on coach by Daniel Anderson What was it like playing in a team like that? Look at it honestly was like going to Your local park or your playground then you're going with your kids because there was um You know that banter but there was also a fun element to it and you know Daniel Anderson had a neck for being so creative that it allowed us to be expressive In games like con games and you know conditioning wasn't like you'll get around the track and you're running You know one K under this time and you know we found different ways that we're able to evolve the conditioning one K runs So to speak and you know we're offloading that wool and having fun with it And so when you think about that in the context of what you see on the field the finished product and sometimes it's messy and it's chaotic

10:35But you know, that's the rest we were doing whether we're as a kid But when we got into that professional environment Daniel was able to nurture that and mold that to Be a bit more sharper and be a bit more cleaner Whereas if we were coming straight from the streets and you know We were doing with uncles or our friends and family in the backyard It was all over the place you know you're throwing it all over you're pulling that a yass and all that But um Yeah in those environments with Daniel Anderson he was able to get the best out of us and mold it into You know a cleaner product All right just to finish then you're wrecking the warriors of 2026 can emulate you and that O2 side and and go to the grand final who knows maybe go one better one a grand final this year Yeah, look I'm only thinking like I know everyone's going one one week at a time and Da da da this and that but I have every faith in these guys because Um a lot of boys and a lot of you know public people And people who know their foot are they they're only going to beat themselves and

11:38The only thing that might be of difference is you know matching up against a team that's played in grand finals And that's probably been the undoing of us when we're in 2002 Was I think we might have had one player who had been in the grand final and then that might have been Kevin Campion at the time I don't think I've been clear he had planned the grand final so we're over all in the atmosphere So I think we had set goals to make the grand final and you know from a psychological picture I'm standpoint you're like man we made the grand final But obviously you always want to win it But we were just happy to be I know that for me for myself personally. I was happy to be there in it Before you know 80 minutes was over and we thought if we got to shot again We we would come back and really do it and we were nearly there in 2003 But we never got to do that ever again and that's Probably a sad sort of reflection But you think about these guys now they're going to be right to be there and I know they've got a long way to go But I'm thinking they're going to take this and it's and that's how yeah

12:41And I'm proud to say it because you know they've earned their might to say Where and what they can be Clinton what a delight to chat to you mate to reminisce a little bit to talk about the current team I can hear the excitement in your voice as the excitement exists across the growing warriors fanbase Thanks for taking the time for a chat today mate all the best and uh and yeah We all look forward to seeing what happens over the next month or so No, Jason. Thanks. She was my pleasure Up the walls Amazing thanks Clinton Clinton taught me what a player he was Just in the preparation for that interview. I was watching a few of his highlights man you forget Well, you don't forget you just he was Magnificent in that team There's no great to hear from some of these players who have been there and done that. It must be so proud Watching the team of 2026 For more from weekend sport with Jason Pine listen live to news talks at B weekends from midday or follow the podcast on ihard radio